Container.



L. C. DUNN.

CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20. me.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

U @TATIE LEWIS C. DUNN, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

CONTAINER.

Application filed April 20, 1916.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, Lewis G. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved collapsible container, such as a crate, packing boX, or the like, the object of the invention being to provide an improved container of this character which may be readily assembled by the packer and without the employment of nails or fastening devices.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of devices, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a crate constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view, out lined on the plane indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 1.

My improved container, whether it be a crate. box, or other like device, comprises a pair of end frames 1, top and bottom members 2, and side members 3. Each end frame is rectangular in form and is provided in opposite sides with grooves 4E and is also provided, on the outer side, with a slat 5, one or more, or other end wall member. Where, as is here shown, the container is in the form of a crate, one slat 5 on each end frame is usually sufficient, and is spaced from the upper and lower sides of the frame, but any suitable number of said slats may be employed within the scope of the invention. The grooves may be cut in the corner posts of the end frames, or may be formed by nailing cleats on said posts, as preferred.

Each side member 3 is here shown as comprising a pair of slats 6 connected to gether at the center by a cross cleat 7 arranged on the outer side. Each side member is provided at each end, and on its outer side, with a bar 8, the said bars forming in effect, flanges at the ends of the side members of the container for engagement in the grooves 4 of the end frames so that said Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. it), 19117.

Serial No. 92,464.

sides may be detachably connected to the end frames. The top and bottom members 2 are each of the width of the space between the side members 3 and are here shown as each comprising slats 9 connected together near their ends by cross cleats 10, 11 and also connected together at a point in termediate the ends by a cross cleat 12. The cross cleats 10, 12 are longer than the cleat l1 and project beyond the sides of the top and bottom members and are adapted to bear on the edges of the side members as shown, the cleats 10 bear against the inner side of one of the end frames. The cleats 11 correspond in length with the width of the top and bottom members and terminate short of the side members so that the ends of the top and bottom members where the cleats 11 are attached may be sprung inwardly to enable said cleats 11 to pass within the end frames in assembling or disassembling the parts of the container.

lVhen setting up a container, the side members are first arranged with their flanges 8 in engagement with the grooves 4 of the end frames and the top and bottom members are then arranged in place between the side members. this being effected by first inserting the ends provided with the short cleats 11, through the end frames, engaging the ends of the cleats 10, 12 on the edges of the side members and the ends of the top and bottom members which project from the cleats 10 in the end members, the final pushing of the top and bottom members into place causing the cleats 11 to slide on the inner sides of the end members and as said cleats reach a point where they clear the end members, said top and bottom members spring outwardly so that said cleats ll engage against the inner sides of the end members and thus form locking shoulders which coact with the cleats 10 for holding said top and bottom members in place.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

A container of the class described comprising end frames, each having grooves in opposite sides; side members having flanges at their ends on their outer sides for engagement in said grooves, and top and bottom members adapted to be arranged be tween the side members, within the end members and having cleats on their outer being also adapted to end members, in assembling or disassemb1ng the container.

In testimony whereof I a'FfiX my slgnature in presence of two wltnesses.

LEVIS C. DUNN.

sides, one near one end and one at an intermediate point to project over and engage the side members, each top and bottom member also having a shorter oleat near the opposite end adapting said end to be sprung inwardly, between the side members and so that said short cleat may be moved inwardly and outwardly through one of the Witnesses:

F. R. WILLIAMS, J. CROSWELL HULL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

